Becoming a SELF Defined Woman

Persistence has served me well as an adult. In fact, I believe my persistence has been the key component in my transition to a successful sales career. During the six and a half years that I worked for florists as a designer and a store manager, I dreamed of opening my own flower shop. When my sister and I opened our shop, we were elated! Unfortunately, after just one year, we had to sell our shop because of personal circumstances. After the sale, I was hired by a prestigious flower shop to be a store manager. <--insert bb9.jpg here at first, i thought the position would be great—i knew that i’d have fewer worries than i’d had as a shop owner—but i soon realized that something was missing. because i was a manager, not a designer, i was unable to use my creativity in creating floral arrangements. i stayed in the position a year and a half, but became increasingly frustrated, so i decided to leave the industry and return to school. when i turned in my notice to the flower shop, i wasn’t sure what educational course i would take, but i knew that staying where i was simply wasn’t an option. i worked as a waitress in three different part-time jobs for several months, because i was a single mother to two young boys and i had to make ends meet. after some research, i decided on a program called oia: office information administration. the program would include courses on software programs, like lotus 1-2-3, wordstar, multi-mate, and wordperfect, along with basic accounting. at the time, the program was cutting-edge and would enable me to find one well-paying full-time job instead of cobbling together three part-time jobs. though nervous, i went to centennial college to complete an application for the program. all went well until i reached a line asking me how many words per minute i typed. the program’s minimum requirement was 40 wpm. i froze. i’d never typed a single word before and had no idea about a keyboard’s layout. i was about to give up and leave, but as i walked away something inside prompted me to ask the lady at the administration desk if i could take a typing course. the lady smiled and pulled out a copy of the college’s course schedule. unfortunately, the next course would begin on the same day as the oia program. discouraged, i asked if there was any exception to the typing speed requirement. she responded that she didn’t think so, but encouraged me to complete the form anyway. so i did. not until i’d finished the rest of the application did i see at the top of the page that the prerequisite was grade 12 or equivalent. i was stunned. why hadn’t i noticed that before? i would never have gotten this far because i’d only completed grade 8. i simply sat there because i had no idea what to do next. the lady behind the counter noticed that i looked upset and asked me if everything was okay. i explained to her that i hadn’t seen the education prerequisite until just now, and that i only had grade 8, but i really wanted to take this program. she called me to her desk and explained that i could still take the course, but that i would need to take some supplemental courses first. she outlined the process and gave me the paperwork to complete so i could apply. i quickly filled out the application and returned it to her. she said that someone would be in touch with me in the next few weeks to set up an interview. i left feeling very hopeful and thankful. as i was driving home that day, i realized that if i rented a typewriter, i could learn to type while taking my supplemental courses. then i’d be ready to take the test for entrance into the oia program. i was excited by my plan. though i knew i would still have to work part-time waitressing, i knew i could succeed. at a meeting the following week with the administrator of the prerequisites department, she asked me many questions about my financial situation and my goals. when we finished, she said that although i wouldn’t receive employment insurance, i could take the program. i left the meeting, feeling the most optimistic i’d felt since my sister and i had sold our flower shop. on my way home i stopped at the business machine rental place and rented an ibm selectric typewriter. it came with a typing manual to help me learn the keys. at home i set the typewriter up in the basement, just outside the laundry room. it was a private spot where i could practice without bothering the boys. every day i went downstairs and practiced. i was frustrated much of the time, as i could never seem to consistently get it right. my mom and sister were excellent typists, so i asked them for advice. once, when my mom was visiting, i asked her to watch me type to see if she could determine what i was doing wrong. the first thing she noticed was that i was constantly looking at the keys. she said i needed to learn where the keys were: i should only be looking at the book or text i was copying from or at what i had actually typed. she also observed that i didn’t really have a typing rhythm, and she suggested i get a metronome to help. i called a local music store and found i could rent one for a couple of months. after several weeks of practice, i set an appointment for the typing test with the college. i wanted to have the test taken so i could go straight into the oia program when i completed my educational upgrading. i was very nervous when i sat at the typewriter for my test. my heart was pounding in my chest so hard i was sure sandy, the lady in the testing center, could hear it. the timer started and i began typing as fast as i could. i looked at the text i was copying and from time to time i caught myself looking at the keys. before i knew it, the buzzer went off and the test was over. sandy said she would be in touch with me in a day or so with the results. i wasn’t sure how i’d done. true to her word, sandy called the next day and informed me i was typing about 18 words per minute. i was very disappointed and asked her if i was able to re-test. she said of course, and just let her know when i was ready. by this time my other courses had started and i loved my teacher, eileen atkinson. she was very warm and inspiring. i had a good deal of difficulty being back in school. sometimes i would stay up until 2 a.m., working on homework. looking back, i don’t think the work was actually that hard. the real problem was my low self-confidence. i believed that i was dumb when it came to math or accounting. i spent many hours in the library, working through the various exercises we had. i was determined to pass this program. i also continued to practice my typing and scheduled another test. the test was run exactly like the first and sandy said she would call me with my results. again i failed, with a rate of only 22 words per minute. i kept practicing and wound up retesting seven more times during the year i took my prerequisite classes. sandy and i got to know each other well, and she always encouraged me to keep trying. i confess that i was ready to quit school and typing a few times. i was often very tired from working and going to school, and i had very little quality time with my boys during this time. after my seventh attempt at the typing test, i got my usual call from sandy, only this time her voice was different. i’d passed! to this day, i am not sure if i really did reach the speed of 40 words per minute or if she gave me the mark because of my sheer persistence, but no matter the reason, my persistence and hard work finally paid off. returning to school was one of the best decisions i have ever made, and i was absolutely delighted when i was chosen valedictorian for our graduation ceremony. having a vision of a better life for my family provided me with the determination i needed to get through the two years of being back in school. bb9.jpg="" here="" at="" first,="" i="" thought="" the="" position="" would="" be="" great—i="" knew="" that="" i’d="" have="" fewer="" worries="" than="" i’d="" had="" as="" a="" shop="" owner—but="" i="" soon="" realized="" that="" something="" was="" missing.="" because="" i="" was="" a="" manager,="" not="" a="" designer,="" i="" was="" unable="" to="" use="" my="" creativity="" in="" creating="" floral="" arrangements.="" i="" stayed="" in="" the="" position="" a="" year="" and="" a="" half,="" but="" became="" increasingly="" frustrated,="" so="" i="" decided="" to="" leave="" the="" industry="" and="" return="" to="" school.="" when="" i="" turned="" in="" my="" notice="" to="" the="" flower="" shop,="" i="" wasn’t="" sure="" what="" educational="" course="" i="" would="" take,="" but="" i="" knew="" that="" staying="" where="" i="" was="" simply="" wasn’t="" an="" option.="" i="" worked="" as="" a="" waitress="" in="" three="" different="" part-time="" jobs="" for="" several="" months,="" because="" i="" was="" a="" single="" mother="" to="" two="" young="" boys="" and="" i="" had="" to="" make="" ends="" meet.="" after="" some="" research,="" i="" decided="" on="" a="" program="" called="" oia:="" office="" information="" administration.="" the="" program="" would="" include="" courses="" on="" software="" programs,="" like="" lotus="" 1-2-3,="" wordstar,="" multi-mate,="" and="" wordperfect,="" along="" with="" basic="" accounting.="" at="" the="" time,="" the="" program="" was="" cutting-edge="" and="" would="" enable="" me="" to="" find="" one="" well-paying="" full-time="" job="" instead="" of="" cobbling="" together="" three="" part-time="" jobs.="" though="" nervous,="" i="" went="" to="" centennial="" college="" to="" complete="" an="" application="" for="" the="" program.="" all="" went="" well="" until="" i="" reached="" a="" line="" asking="" me="" how="" many="" words="" per="" minute="" i="" typed.="" the="" program’s="" minimum="" requirement="" was="" 40="" wpm.="" i="" froze.="" i’d="" never="" typed="" a="" single="" word="" before="" and="" had="" no="" idea="" about="" a="" keyboard’s="" layout.="" i="" was="" about="" to="" give="" up="" and="" leave,="" but="" as="" i="" walked="" away="" something="" inside="" prompted="" me="" to="" ask="" the="" lady="" at="" the="" administration="" desk="" if="" i="" could="" take="" a="" typing="" course.="" the="" lady="" smiled="" and="" pulled="" out="" a="" copy="" of="" the="" college’s="" course="" schedule.="" unfortunately,="" the="" next="" course="" would="" begin="" on="" the="" same="" day="" as="" the="" oia="" program.="" discouraged,="" i="" asked="" if="" there="" was="" any="" exception="" to="" the="" typing="" speed="" requirement.="" she="" responded="" that="" she="" didn’t="" think="" so,="" but="" encouraged="" me="" to="" complete="" the="" form="" anyway.="" so="" i="" did.="" not="" until="" i’d="" finished="" the="" rest="" of="" the="" application="" did="" i="" see="" at="" the="" top="" of="" the="" page="" that="" the="" prerequisite="" was="" grade="" 12="" or="" equivalent.="" i="" was="" stunned.="" why="" hadn’t="" i="" noticed="" that="" before?="" i="" would="" never="" have="" gotten="" this="" far="" because="" i’d="" only="" completed="" grade="" 8.="" i="" simply="" sat="" there="" because="" i="" had="" no="" idea="" what="" to="" do="" next.="" the="" lady="" behind="" the="" counter="" noticed="" that="" i="" looked="" upset="" and="" asked="" me="" if="" everything="" was="" okay.="" i="" explained="" to="" her="" that="" i="" hadn’t="" seen="" the="" education="" prerequisite="" until="" just="" now,="" and="" that="" i="" only="" had="" grade="" 8,="" but="" i="" really="" wanted="" to="" take="" this="" program.="" she="" called="" me="" to="" her="" desk="" and="" explained="" that="" i="" could="" still="" take="" the="" course,="" but="" that="" i="" would="" need="" to="" take="" some="" supplemental="" courses="" first.="" she="" outlined="" the="" process="" and="" gave="" me="" the="" paperwork="" to="" complete="" so="" i="" could="" apply.="" i="" quickly="" filled="" out="" the="" application="" and="" returned="" it="" to="" her.="" she="" said="" that="" someone="" would="" be="" in="" touch="" with="" me="" in="" the="" next="" few="" weeks="" to="" set="" up="" an="" interview.="" i="" left="" feeling="" very="" hopeful="" and="" thankful.="" as="" i="" was="" driving="" home="" that="" day,="" i="" realized="" that="" if="" i="" rented="" a="" typewriter,="" i="" could="" learn="" to="" type="" while="" taking="" my="" supplemental="" courses.="" then="" i’d="" be="" ready="" to="" take="" the="" test="" for="" entrance="" into="" the="" oia="" program.="" i="" was="" excited="" by="" my="" plan.="" though="" i="" knew="" i="" would="" still="" have="" to="" work="" part-time="" waitressing,="" i="" knew="" i="" could="" succeed.="" at="" a="" meeting="" the="" following="" week="" with="" the="" administrator="" of="" the="" prerequisites="" department,="" she="" asked="" me="" many="" questions="" about="" my="" financial="" situation="" and="" my="" goals.="" when="" we="" finished,="" she="" said="" that="" although="" i="" wouldn’t="" receive="" employment="" insurance,="" i="" could="" take="" the="" program.="" i="" left="" the="" meeting,="" feeling="" the="" most="" optimistic="" i’d="" felt="" since="" my="" sister="" and="" i="" had="" sold="" our="" flower="" shop.="" on="" my="" way="" home="" i="" stopped="" at="" the="" business="" machine="" rental="" place="" and="" rented="" an="" ibm="" selectric="" typewriter.="" it="" came="" with="" a="" typing="" manual="" to="" help="" me="" learn="" the="" keys.="" at="" home="" i="" set="" the="" typewriter="" up="" in="" the="" basement,="" just="" outside="" the="" laundry="" room.="" it="" was="" a="" private="" spot="" where="" i="" could="" practice="" without="" bothering="" the="" boys.="" every="" day="" i="" went="" downstairs="" and="" practiced.="" i="" was="" frustrated="" much="" of="" the="" time,="" as="" i="" could="" never="" seem="" to="" consistently="" get="" it="" right.="" my="" mom="" and="" sister="" were="" excellent="" typists,="" so="" i="" asked="" them="" for="" advice.="" once,="" when="" my="" mom="" was="" visiting,="" i="" asked="" her="" to="" watch="" me="" type="" to="" see="" if="" she="" could="" determine="" what="" i="" was="" doing="" wrong.="" the="" first="" thing="" she="" noticed="" was="" that="" i="" was="" constantly="" looking="" at="" the="" keys.="" she="" said="" i="" needed="" to="" learn="" where="" the="" keys="" were:="" i="" should="" only="" be="" looking="" at="" the="" book="" or="" text="" i="" was="" copying="" from="" or="" at="" what="" i="" had="" actually="" typed.="" she="" also="" observed="" that="" i="" didn’t="" really="" have="" a="" typing="" rhythm,="" and="" she="" suggested="" i="" get="" a="" metronome="" to="" help.="" i="" called="" a="" local="" music="" store="" and="" found="" i="" could="" rent="" one="" for="" a="" couple="" of="" months.="" after="" several="" weeks="" of="" practice,="" i="" set="" an="" appointment="" for="" the="" typing="" test="" with="" the="" college.="" i="" wanted="" to="" have="" the="" test="" taken="" so="" i="" could="" go="" straight="" into="" the="" oia="" program="" when="" i="" completed="" my="" educational="" upgrading.="" i="" was="" very="" nervous="" when="" i="" sat="" at="" the="" typewriter="" for="" my="" test.="" my="" heart="" was="" pounding="" in="" my="" chest="" so="" hard="" i="" was="" sure="" sandy,="" the="" lady="" in="" the="" testing="" center,="" could="" hear="" it.="" the="" timer="" started="" and="" i="" began="" typing="" as="" fast="" as="" i="" could.="" i="" looked="" at="" the="" text="" i="" was="" copying="" and="" from="" time="" to="" time="" i="" caught="" myself="" looking="" at="" the="" keys.="" before="" i="" knew="" it,="" the="" buzzer="" went="" off="" and="" the="" test="" was="" over.="" sandy="" said="" she="" would="" be="" in="" touch="" with="" me="" in="" a="" day="" or="" so="" with="" the="" results.="" i="" wasn’t="" sure="" how="" i’d="" done.="" true="" to="" her="" word,="" sandy="" called="" the="" next="" day="" and="" informed="" me="" i="" was="" typing="" about="" 18="" words="" per="" minute.="" i="" was="" very="" disappointed="" and="" asked="" her="" if="" i="" was="" able="" to="" re-test.="" she="" said="" of="" course,="" and="" just="" let="" her="" know="" when="" i="" was="" ready.="" by="" this="" time="" my="" other="" courses="" had="" started="" and="" i="" loved="" my="" teacher,="" eileen="" atkinson.="" she="" was="" very="" warm="" and="" inspiring.="" i="" had="" a="" good="" deal="" of="" difficulty="" being="" back="" in="" school.="" sometimes="" i="" would="" stay="" up="" until="" 2="" a.m.,="" working="" on="" homework.="" looking="" back,="" i="" don’t="" think="" the="" work="" was="" actually="" that="" hard.="" the="" real="" problem="" was="" my="" low="" self-confidence.="" i="" believed="" that="" i="" was="" dumb="" when="" it="" came="" to="" math="" or="" accounting.="" i="" spent="" many="" hours="" in="" the="" library,="" working="" through="" the="" various="" exercises="" we="" had.="" i="" was="" determined="" to="" pass="" this="" program.="" i="" also="" continued="" to="" practice="" my="" typing="" and="" scheduled="" another="" test.="" the="" test="" was="" run="" exactly="" like="" the="" first="" and="" sandy="" said="" she="" would="" call="" me="" with="" my="" results.="" again="" i="" failed,="" with="" a="" rate="" of="" only="" 22="" words="" per="" minute.="" i="" kept="" practicing="" and="" wound="" up="" retesting="" seven="" more="" times="" during="" the="" year="" i="" took="" my="" prerequisite="" classes.="" sandy="" and="" i="" got="" to="" know="" each="" other="" well,="" and="" she="" always="" encouraged="" me="" to="" keep="" trying.="" i="" confess="" that="" i="" was="" ready="" to="" quit="" school="" and="" typing="" a="" few="" times.="" i="" was="" often="" very="" tired="" from="" working="" and="" going="" to="" school,="" and="" i="" had="" very="" little="" quality="" time="" with="" my="" boys="" during="" this="" time.="" after="" my="" seventh="" attempt="" at="" the="" typing="" test,="" i="" got="" my="" usual="" call="" from="" sandy,="" only="" this="" time="" her="" voice="" was="" different.="" i’d="" passed!="" to="" this="" day,="" i="" am="" not="" sure="" if="" i="" really="" did="" reach="" the="" speed="" of="" 40="" words="" per="" minute="" or="" if="" she="" gave="" me="" the="" mark="" because="" of="" my="" sheer="" persistence,="" but="" no="" matter="" the="" reason,="" my="" persistence="" and="" hard="" work="" finally="" paid="" off.="" returning="" to="" school="" was="" one="" of="" the="" best="" decisions="" i="" have="" ever="" made,="" and="" i="" was="" absolutely="" delighted="" when="" i="" was="" chosen="" valedictorian="" for="" our="" graduation="" ceremony.="" having="" a="" vision="" of="" a="" better="" life="" for="" my="" family="" provided="" me="" with="" the="" determination="" i="" needed="" to="" get="" through="" the="" two="" years="" of="" being="" back="" in="">